Hey all, DLW here with a new chapter. A huge thank you to all the readers, follows,fav's and reviews (Honestly, it helps me think)! This arc and the next arc have me incredibly excited to write them (No spoilers though). Disclaimer: Zootopia and its characters are copyright Disney. (I own none of the characters in the story aside from the O/C's.).

The Dystopian Society

Chapter Three: Pitch Black

'Vereor Nox?'

"As you held out your hand in the dark, I asked. 'Where are you taking me?"

[February 4, 'Sahara Square' 5:37 PM]

It had taken some time for the two to travel from one side of the city to the next. Crossing the bridge from Happy Town around rush-hour was a surprisingly difficult task, and getting through Sahara Square was always tedious.

Though their destination hadn't been as far as the prison, the area that Jack had told Judy about was unfamiliar territory to her. Thankfully she had a little help from a guide she considered less than savory.

"It's on your next left." Nick announced.

He had been guiding Judy down the busy streets of the square for a little while now. As he had been here many times himself, he was easily able to determine the fastest route.

While she hadn't said much of a word to him this time, he did listen as she had radioed the ZPD about her location. Not that it mattered much to him, but he was at least happy that the rabbit wasn't chewing him out for the time being.

He was even able to sit in the chair this time, with a little help from Jack of course. Much to his surprise, it was slightly more comfortable than the floor. The thing that mostly drew his attention were the familiar buildings they passed by on every street.

"Is this the place?" Judy asked begrudgingly.

While she did want to get to the Nocturnal District quickly, her having to rely on the foxes word in an area that she rarely came to was nerve wrecking. Even if Jack had assured her that things would be fine, a gnawing feeling in the back of her mind told her otherwise.

"Sure is," Nick replied, tilting his head to see the exact spot he was looking for "Right at this building."

Almost instantly he regretted telling her that they were upon their destination as he felt the car come to an immediate stop. He may have been in the seat of the car this time, but he was never once buckled in.

Once the car came to a screeching halt, Judy quickly cut the engine off and unbuckled herself. She heard a sickening thud in the back followed by a low sounding grunt.

She shook her head and ignored both sounds, questioning why he bothered to be seated in the first place. At least they had managed to reach the place they were searching for, hopefully.

For a moment, she looked out the window to see the building they would enter.

It was a brick apartment complex that, judging by its poor upkeep, had seen much better days.

The red painted bricks had long since faded, shingles had fallen off in various directions. Every window had been boarded up, and the grass by that surrounded it had almost grown into a meadow of its own.

Shaking her head in disbelief that this was the place, she reached for her belongings.

As she knew it was dark, she brought her flashlight. She also took her coat as well as her small radio just incase, she would be prepared for anything at a moments notice.

She opened her car door and hopped out gracefully onto the sidewalk. Fixing her coat and sighing at the nearly condemned building before her, she pulled the door open to usher the fox out.

Not nearly as gracefully as her, or even standing at this point, Nick slowly rose back to his feet. He had fallen in such an awkward way that he had to roll to his back and use the seat as leverage to ease himself up.

The rabbit's ability to drive was slowly chipping at him. He wondered constantly if she was doing this on purpose, of if she genuinely didn't know how to drive properly.

Finally to his feet and trying to fix his glasses back to a more comfortable position, Nick walked forward to the open door. He could tell Judy was impatiently awaiting him, but he took his time nonetheless. She owed him a few seconds for the minor damages done.

He carefully hopped down to the ground, rebalancing himself once he landed. Now standing on even footing, he turned his attention to the building.

"Okay, where is it?" Judy asked, closing and locking the door behind Nick.

She walked around him, watching him carefully until she came to a stop and tapped her foot rapidly. To her thought, there was no way that this was the entrance to the underground; even if the street names were correct, this wasn't it, he was stalling.

Nick watched her as she grew more impatient, the sight alone made him smile the whole way. He knew inwardly that she wouldn't like the answer, but he had to break the news to her sometime.

Faking a cough to clear his throat, Nick answered. "Officer Carrots, you are standing on it."

"What?" Judy questioned, raising a brow at his statement.

She carefully looked down, ensuring that there was enough distance between her and Nick for him not to make any sudden move. The moment she realized what he implied sent a cold chill down her spine.

Seeing her surprise, Nick continued. "It's an access tunnel."

Just below her feet, as was told, was a rather large metal cover. She knew the design that had appeared all throughout the city, and she knew they only lead to one direction, straight down.

Tearing her eyes away from the fact that it wasn't the building but the sewers that they would need to crawl through, Judy furiously met Nick's cheerful gaze.

"Jack never mentioned an access tunnel." She argued, hoping to catch Nick in some kind of falsified act again.

Nevertheless, he stood there patiently; grinning as wide as ever in mockery to Judy's dismay.

Again, Judy sought another route. There had to be another way to get there faster, she had to know. "What's your game this time?"

Her question rang through the empty street they were on and only moved Nick to take a step forward.

He chuckled at her hesitation. Though he couldn't tell exactly why she didn't want to go this way, he knew it was their best bet.

"He did say that it was the closest entrance to the 'Underground', correct?" Nick chided, tilting his head towards the tunnel and setting his eyes on Judy.

Hearing Nicks's justification made her all the more uneasy. It was true that Jack did say this particular location and that it was below the surface, but that made everything much more difficult for her.

Sighing and tapping her foot more fervently than before, Judy thought of her best course of action. She just needed to get the information from his 'friends', and then it was back to the prison with him.

Not even taking the time to figure any plan further, she reached for a part of the tunnels plate that was easy enough for her to lift. Thankfully, for both of them, it wasn't as heavy as a sewer cover.

Though she struggled for a second to get it open, she felt it get easier after a few tries of lifting it just above her shoulder height and push it the rest of the way.

With a metallic clang, the tunnel was open and allowed them to view inside. Nick was the first to look down the open space.

While not surprisingly dark, it was at least fit with a crude ladder system to make their journey a little easier. Their, mostly his, need for broken legs was not part of this investigation.

As he continued to peer down the tunnel to see any light source, two clicks just at his ear level caught his attention.

The first click brought light with it and helped him see the ladder a little better. The second, however, made him near jump back when he looked to see what it was.

Judy had once again drawn her taser and was aiming down the tunnel. Whether or not she had intended to fire it or scare him, he didn't know.

"You know, you don't have to pull out a gun at everything, right?" Nick asked nervously.

Peering up at him, and unfazed by his judgment, Judy answered. "And you don't get to tell me how to do my job."

After a moment of him standing a few feet away, he regained his composure and knew Judy wasn't going to aim at him this time.

"Will you relax," He sighed, shaking his head and approaching Judy slowly. "The Nocturnal District isn't that bad, alright?"

Though she couldn't exactly shoot him, Judy would still be more than willing to take him down at a moments notice.

She twitched her nose at his attempt to catch her off guard, she wouldn't believe for a second that this wouldn't be a nightmare of an experience.

For a moment, nothing was said between the two. Both idly stared at the other, Judy with hot coals in her eyes, and Nick with an easy going smirk.

Fidgeting slightly and swishing his tail across the ground, Nick coyly asked. "So, can you un-cuff me?"

Judy, at his question, nearly raised her arm to aim at him. Though it was nothing more than a twitch, she remembered what Jack had told her.

It didn't stop her, however, from gripping the weapon a little tighter.

"Why would I give you the chance to attack me again?" She inquired, her voice on the verge of a yell.

Nick thought for a moment, he had half expected her to 'escort' him back to the car thus ending their short trip. This, however, could be his only chance to feel his arms again.

Taking all of this into account, he knew what to do.

"Last time I guess I was just resisting arrest." He proclaimed, shrugging his shoulders and leaning closer to Judy. "I can only attack with insults now."

Judy could feel herself on the verge of losing it. How could he brush off his attack as 'resisting arrest'? If she wasn't in full gear for the raid, she couldn't fathom what could have happened to her that time.

Before she could even protest, she heard Nick sigh and face towards the car.

"Come on Carrots, now you should know that I can't run away with this thing on," He admitted, tilting his head up and showing his set of collars. "And, I can't climb down there with these on."

He furthered his argument by turning to the side to reveal the set of cuffs he'd had on since they started.

To him, they were uncomfortable and irritating, but to Judy, it was a safety measure that she didn't want to be taken lightly.

Nick waited for her to say something, but as time passed, she just stood staring at him. He had to try something else.

He let his shoulders relax as he took a deep breath. When he was ready, he faced Judy with a mellow stance and tone.

"Look, I know you don't trust me, despite me being a model citizen," He began, stating it as near fact while the faintest of smiles grew on him. "But I'm only trying to help you."

Judy didn't know what to say or think, it was true that she didn't trust him. Though he was certainly no model citizen, and his level of help had yet to prove itself; she couldn't exactly toss him down the tunnel and hope he'd survive, Jack would be furious with her.

"Besides, I'd have to answer to Jack," Nick added, his shaky voice catching her attention and making her ears twitch. "And I, for one, don't want to know what happens when you anger a bunny who will by all means, find you."

Though Nick never showed it, he could feel a chill run down his back. He had never met a rabbit that in one day tried to get him leeway, and simultaneously stop an officer from nearly killing him.

Judy, stalwart as ever, stared at him with a renewed perspective. Just like her, he'd answer to Jack as the investigation was a joint commission. Even after putting her in harms way, Jack was trying to protect her.

She questioned at that moment, just what Jack had spoken to Nick about. If it was enough to get the fox to quiver in fear, then he had truly done or said something in her favor. She'd have to thank him later for that.

Though a second thought nearly made her scratch that thanks altogether. Jack did say that he didn't need to be cuffed all the time, and this, unfortunately, was one of them. She had no choice but to comply.

She sighed, mentally bracing her for any attack possible. Even if there was a chance that he could get his teeth around her, she would have no choice but to take him down.

Eyeing the grinning fox one last time, she resigned herself to having to free him. She reached into her pocket and grabbed the small key.

"No sudden movements." She commanded, walking cautiously to his side.

Smiling at the potential promise of freedom, Nick answered. "Sure thing Carrots."

He stood still, never glancing towards her just incase she changed her mind. Not even a strand of fur on his tail moved, though he didn't hold his breath.

Now at his back, Judy began to place the key into the cuffs and unlatch them. As she tried to loose the first one, she slightly brushed her foot against Nicks tail causing her to hop back a few feet.

Once she landed, she struck a defensive posture and mindlessly hovered her paw over her weapon.

Nick, no longer feeling the cuffs being loosened, turned his head to see Judy staring him down. He soon noticed that she was poised to strike, but he made no sudden movement.

"Are you always this jumpy?" He asked, half fretting the outcome of the question.

In her mind, Judy saw only him attacking her again. This, however, wasn't the situation at hand. Nick hadn't moved aside from criticizing her, but her instinct didn't allow her to lower her paw for nearly a minute.

She breathed heavily, calming herself down as the fox patiently waited for her to try again. Soon enough, after seeing no attempt by Nick to followthrough, she placed her paw back to the side and slowly walked to him again.

Once she reached him, she resumed her efforts to remove the cuffs. This time, she ensured that she would remain diligent until it was done despite her reluctance.

"Baby steps carrots." Nick teased, feeling one cuff loose itself.

He hadn't even had the other cuff off when Judy replied. "Shut it."

With a click, Nick could feel the other cuff being removed from him. He quickly brought his paws to his face, finally being able to see them for the first time since they left the prison.

Distracted by his new found 'freedom', Nick never saw Judy walk around him and to the tunnel's ladder. She had managed to take the cuffs that were only slightly larger than his wrist and fasten it to her belt. While they weren't particularly heavy, the added weight was slightly cumbersome.

"I'll go first." She said, switching her flashlight on and waving it down to hopeful see the bottom.

Judy didn't want to take any chances. If she was below Nick, then she would have the advantage incase he tried anything against her.

Finally feeling better about not being cuffed, Nick smiled and walked closer to her.

"After you madam." He mocked, playfully bowing as he watched her quickly jump down and grab onto the ladder.

Her approach, though dangerous, ensured her a head start of at least a few seconds. Sure enough, she saw Nick just above her climbing down.

Due to her size, it was slightly more difficult to maneuver. She found it a lot easier to simply hold the flashlight in her teeth as she made her descent.

She could still hear Nick above her, climbing at an even pace while she herself frantically went a little faster. Eventually, the light from the surface had faded and they were in complete darkness aside from her flashlight.

Judy never knew how long they climbed down, but ever so often, she would tilt her head to cause the light to shine towards what she supposed was the bottom. After a few times of this, she caught sight of the floor just below them.

Thinking quickly as to distance herself and Nick, she climbed a little further down until she felt comfortable enough to jump. Once she reached the threshold of her falling distance, she let go of the ladder.

It took her a second or two to reach the ground, but as she did so, she rolled to her side to break her fall and avoid injuring herself. She immediately loosed the flashlight from her teeth with one paw and clutched her taser in the other.

While she never took the gun off her belt, if there was anyone waiting for them down here, they wouldn't like the end result of messing with one of the most decorated in the ZPD.

She shone her flashlight down one end of the tunnel and then to the other. Both sides had relatively the same thing, cold gritty stone, and murky dark passageways.

It smelled of mold and fetid water but was surprisingly dry for the part that they were in. She couldn't tell how old it was, but from the looks of it had to be part of the cities oldest set of tunnels.

There was nobody there, for now at least. It was just them, and Judy could hear the fox coming her way.

"Quite an entrance there," Nick chuckled, taking his sweet time in getting down the ladder. "You should have tried out as an athlete."

She paid no heed to his word as he reached the ground. He was still difficult, but at least he did comply instead of run away. She felt slightly better that they were alone, though she was still nervous about traveling with the fox.

"Let's go," Nick directed, waving for her to follow. "You're gonna love it here."

Without even taking the time wait for her, he walked down the tunnel. He could soon tell that she was following him as her flashlight quickly faced towards his direction.

"It's dark." Judy protested, feeling uneasy.

It was eerily quiet and far darker than she could bear without her flashlight, and had it not been for the fact that it was on, she wouldn't have any way to see or deal with threats easily.

Just ahead of her, she could hear Nick snickering for some reason. She didn't know what it was about, but she was both curious and annoyed.

"In the tunnels, yes," Nick stated, peering left and right down a corridor before moving forward. "But, in the main district, never."

Now she was intrigued, how could this place never be without lights? It was a glorified cave system from what she had been told.

So many things ran through her head about the place, but the thing that kept circling her thoughts was the smell. It had become somewhat nauseating, and the encroaching darkness didn't help her psyche at all.

"How much further?" She asked, drawing breath after breath of the musty air.

As she asked, this, she watched as Nick turned to see down a crossway. Just as before, he looked in both directions, but this time, he smiled widely at what he had seen.

"Here we are." He announced, heading in the direction that caught his attention.

Not wanting to fall behind, Judy picked up her pace as she saw his tail disappear. Since she had no intention to lose sight of him, she perked up her ears to ensure that he was still in range.

Hearing the click of his feet as she rounded the corner to catch up, she watched as he made his way towards a solid iron door.

Nick smiled and tilted his head towards it and waited for her to approach. Once she was standing only a few feet away, he reached for the door handle.

"Officer Carrots," He announced, pulling the heavy door open and nearly covering his ears from the creek of metal. "Welcome to the Nocturnal District."

As the door opened, Judy couldn't believe her eyes. A dance of lights filled the tunnel that they were in, and with it the musty smell dissipated at once.

She could clearly see figures in the distance, mammals of all kinds and lives as busy as the streets above.

Nick continued to smile at her, holding his arm towards the door in an attempt to usher her in. He watched happily as she soon clicked her flashlight off and walked towards him.

"Not questioning my own fears I looked back and said. 'To a place where light shines brighter.'"

Hello there, and welcome to the end notes! Chapter 3 is finally here and I'm chipping away at it bit by bit.

Also, a new Nick and Finnick will be out sometime this week!

And I hope you get a chance to read this and the other at your leisure. Also, these stories can be found here as well:

fanfiction:
~dancinglunarwolves

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users/DancingLunarWolves/works

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Also, I'm placing my other stories (non zootopia) on hold (just on hold) until I'm done with a good chunk of these. More info on my profile page.

I hope you all enjoy.

Till Next Time
-DLW